► Student Opportunities in the Public Service
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Learn about the Public Service Commission and post-secondary recruitment targeted at students and recent graduates including the Federal Student Work Experience Program [1], Co-op/Internship Program [2], and the Repayment Assistance Plan [3].
Moderator: Sasha Simek, Senior Human Resources Advisor Consultant, Corporate Staffing and Recruitment, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Presenter: Diana Ferreira, Human Resources Advisor, National Recruitment Directorate, Public Service Commission
Diana works as a Human Resources Advisor for the Public Service Commission’s Toronto regional office, responsible for Ontario and Prairies regions. She was born and raised in London, Ontario. Diana graduated from the University of Western Ontario, holding a Master’s and Undergraduate degree in Languages and Linguistics. Diana began her career working for the private sector, in various client facing roles and for the district school board. She has worked for the Federal Government for four years, occupying several roles in the administrative and human resources fields. In her current role as a Human Resources Advisor, Diana supports the delivery of recruitment government-wide programs and services to attract new diverse talent to join the Public Service. She collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to foster an inclusive and diverse public service. Diana is also passionate about youth engagement and is the co-chair of her departmental youth network, the Emerging Leaders Network.
REGISTER HERE [4]
► Gryphons in the Public Service
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Hear the personal journeys of alumni from studying at U of G to pursuing a career as a public servant in the Government of Canada
Panel Members:
Tricia Mitchell, Regional Director of Science, Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Tricia has spent the past twenty years working in fields related to environmental management and ecosystem health. After graduating from the University of Guelph, she completed an internship with the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi, Kenya. She then spent more than a decade working on transboundary water quality issues with Environment and Climate Change Canada, particularly in support of the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Tricia now works as part of a dynamic science team at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, focused on biodiversity and aquatic ecosystem health, including science related to species at risk, aquatic invasive species, aquaculture science, fish, and fish habitat, as well as Arctic science, including research on ecosystem impacts, and stock assessments for fish and marine mammals.
Bill Gardner, Fisheries Technician and Student Ambassador, Ecosystems and Oceans Science, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
William Gardner lives and works in Sault Ste. Marie, ON. He has worked for DFO's Great Lakes Lab for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences for over 30 years. Much of his job involves hiring and training students. He has worked on all of the Canadian Great Lakes and on many small lakes and rivers throughout the basin. Away from work he enjoys gardening, travelling and live theatre.
Kelly McNaughton, HR Advisor, Recruitment and Collaborative Staffing, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Kira Tryon, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Banff Field Office, Banff National Park, Parks Canada
Graduating from the University of Guelph in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science lead Kira to begin a career in the not-for-profit industry with the Canadian Health Food Association. This Association ignited her love for government policy and communications, which ultimately lead her to the position she is in today. As a Public Relations and Communications Officer for Parks Canada, Banff National Park, she harnesses her passion for storytelling and communicating of factual and clear information to Canadians.
Elie Chamoun, Canada Free Agent, Natural Resources Canada
Elie holds an H.B.Sc. in Biochemistry from McMaster University as well as an M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Guelph where he led three human research studies on the impacts of genetics on taste, dietary intake, and health.Elie previously worked at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in the Office of the Chief Science Operating Officer. There, he advanced a number of projects involving collaborations within the CFIA laboratory network, between CFIA and several other federal departments, with international regulatory organizations as well as with academic institutions.In his most recent role, Elie was a Science Advisor at Laboratories Canada, a program at Public Services and Procurement Canada, where he used his background in science and project management to advise on the planning of large-scale science infrastructure. Elie is now a Canada Free Agent, which is a program for talent mobility that creates space for public servants to take charge of their careers. Free Agents can select their own projects and determine their own career paths; undertake projects where understanding and applying innovation processes is encouraged, and receive ongoing learning and professional development opportunities. In his first assignment as a Free Agent, Elie is an acting Manager at Natural Resources Canada where he is working to enhance the availability of science within the Canadian Forest Service.
Angela Catford, Section Head, Risk Assessment, Health Canada
Angela completed her undergrad in Biological Engineering at the UoG in 2006 and rolled right into a MASc with Dr. Gord Hayward and Dr. Warren Stiver. Together they worked on the Acoustic Prion Sensor for ante-mortem diagnosis of prion diseases. Since graduating from what she considers to be the most fun academic experience in town, Angela moved directly into risk assessment within the federal government. First in blood-borne diseases, and then to risk assessment related to microbial hazards in food at Heath Canada. She has been in the food safety area now for over 12 years and is a proud public servant.
REGISTER HERE [5]